LadyB Posted September 8, 2018 Report Share Posted September 8, 2018 We are traveling to Europe before our Mediterranean cruise and although I have an international plan in place I don't know which things to turn off and which to leave on. Can someone please help with things like Data Roaming, Cellular Data, Cellular Data Options etc. Also, which apps do I leave Cellular Data on and which can I turn off. I just want to send and receive text messages and emails. Any help will be greatly appreciated. LadyB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted September 8, 2018 Report Share Posted September 8, 2018 That depends on your cell phone provider. With most international add-on plans you can use your phone normally without any changes and the costs (if any) will be based on your carrier's international plan. On the ship you are usually best to activate airplane mode once away from land or the on-board cell tower may kick in which isn't covered by most international plans. To be honest, you would be best to visit a store of your cell phone provider and have them walk you through any changes and charges. Folks here can make educated guesses based on past experience but terms and conditions change. In the end your cell provider will know exactly what plan you have and how to avoid extra charges. MrB 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Lovell Posted September 8, 2018 Report Share Posted September 8, 2018 Last year when we went to Europe (Italy, France, Greece, Malta) I got a European sim card for $50 that allowed me to talk & text back to the states whenever we were in port or on land. When we landed in Barcelona I installed the European sim card in my phone & I was good to go. It included 10 GB data in 4G/LTE, 120 minutes talk time, 1,000 texts. https://www.amazon.com/Orange-Holiday-Europe-tethering-countries/dp/B06XBYMX58 4ensic, Orchids and accio7 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted September 9, 2018 Report Share Posted September 9, 2018 If you do change SIM cards make sure you understand your phone number will change. Calls and text sent to your regular phone number will not be received and every text sent will come from your European phone number. That may be ok, but if friends and family use your regular phone number you won't get it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted September 10, 2018 Report Share Posted September 10, 2018 What type of phone do you have? iPhone? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monctonguy Posted September 10, 2018 Report Share Posted September 10, 2018 Would be best to contact your provider for those questions...wrong advice here could cost you a lot of $$. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocLC Posted September 12, 2018 Report Share Posted September 12, 2018 Normally, simply turning off roaming is the solution. However, if you have an international plan like I do, you need to have risking enabled in order to use the International plan. The problem is that you can rack up roaming fees when the phone connects to the ship's own cellular tower, so I turn off cellular data when I board the ship and turn it back on when in port. As others have suggested, call your carrier. Mine just instituted an option where you can punch in a code to your phone to disable data roaming on any not included networks, so now I don't have to worry. And if there's an emergency, I can disable it. shrinkrap 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
accio7 Posted September 13, 2018 Report Share Posted September 13, 2018 On 9/8/2018 at 7:05 PM, Rob Lovell said: Last year when we went to Europe (Italy, France, Greece, Malta) I got a European sim card for $50 that allowed me to talk & text back to the states whenever we were in port or on land. When we landed in Barcelona I installed the European sim card in my phone & I was good to go. It included 10 GB data in 4G/LTE, 120 minutes talk time, 1,000 texts. https://www.amazon.com/Orange-Holiday-Europe-tethering-countries/dp/B06XBYMX58 Thanks for this, I'm considering purchasing a European SIM and plan for my Med cruise next June. I would like to also add that, in order to utilize this, your smartphone needs to be unlocked. This is not an issue for newer models, something to consider for older ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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